Tattva

This article was written in response to a biased and incorrect “letter” that attempted to distort the efforts of Hindu activists around the world. The anti-Hindu “letter” was entitled “A Letter to a Young American Hindu”.

Over the centuries the United States of America has been the new home for many old world immigrants.  Many of these immigrants were fleeing atrophied systems and rigid societies. In many cases the very nature of these societies suffocated the natural growth of its member communities.  Any time efforts or movements developed as a challenge to the status quo, the response was generally negative.  Many of these efforts and movements could not blossom until they were transplanted to America.  Yet, unfortunately, representatives of the status quo challenged this blossoming and growth.  These attacks threatened not only the targeted groups but also the very essence of the American ideals of freedom, fair-play, and equality. A brief overview of the current Indian-American condition reveals a perfect example of Old World suffocation of
New World dedication and inspiration.

 America itself is not perfect and neither is India.  But the potential of an awakened America, strong physically and economically, and a reinvigorated India, strong culturally, working together, presents a hopeful vision of the future. Ironically it is the imperfections of America and its foundation on the ethnic cleansing, forced religious conversions, and genocide of the original Native Americans that is at the heart of the matter. After hundreds of years of oppressive and inhumane approaches to conflict resolution America paradoxically is now the home to a resurgence of nearly every indigenous tradition on the planet.  It is a good and great thing that Hindus from India can blossom here. It is a bad and shameful thing that some so-called Hindus attack this blossoming despite it being a natural expression within the framework of American society.  

AMERICAN INDIANS; INDIAN AMERICANS 

The irony of ironies is that in an America built on the forced conversion, ethnic cleansing, physical and cultural genocide, destruction and takeover of sacred sites, stimulated inter-tribal violence, and economic and agricultural destruction of native methodologies, we now find American Hindus being attacked for making a stand against forced conversions, ethnic cleansing, physical and cultural genocide, inter-ethnic rivalries, and the destruction and takeover of sacred Hindu sites. It is a tragic irony that these very same Hindus are being savaged as “culturally suffocating Nazi-like hate mongers.” In America’s own tragic history we find the same method was used repeatedly against the Native American traditionalists.  Every crime perpetuated by the non-natives upon the natives was blamed upon those “stubborn, anti-white, anti-Christian, anti-progressive retro throwbacks”. Great Native American leaders like Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and Tecumseh, refused to turn against the ways of their ancestors.  Similarly, throughout the Americas natives were divided into the ‘progressives’ and the ‘traditionalists’. Of course the traditionalists were not labeled as such but rather were labeled as hate mongers, racists, extremists, warmongers, malcontents, bad Injuns, Satanists, lost souls, heretics, lawbreakers etc. Any self-empowered attempts at Reformation based on the indigenous genius and traditions were immediately labeled and targeted for destruction.  These efforts were generally led by the so-called progressive Native Americans and their allied governments and clergyman. Again we see history repeat itself as the greatest attacks on the Hindu renaissance are always led by fellow Hindus and Indians.  

PRIDE, RELIGION AND OTHER THINGS

The majority of those who attack the Sangh and other Hindu activists fall into the category of the ambivalent Hindu. They speak of the joy and comfort they feel at festivals or temples.  They speak of the pleasure they feel at family ceremonies or the depth of their emotions experienced at Hindu funerals, weddings, inaugurations etc.  They give pronouncements that Hindu culture is indeed a very crucial and vital part of society.  They are proud of ancestors that built temples, bathing ghats, go-shalas, dharmshalas etc.  However some see any attempts to promote and empower their allegedly beloved culture through public education or through governmental assistance or organized fashion as fascistic and dangerous. This interesting character will gladly join a boisterous event glorifying a sports team, movie star, pop star, TV show or sometimes even the nation. They will wholeheartedly participate in functions that are designed to enliven and inspire such as parties, family events, graduations and other such celebrations.  Recognizing that such events add an element of healthy pride, sense of accomplishment and instill hope for the future, people gladly participate and attend such functions. Yet again in a brilliant display of illogic and with a disconnect of gargantuan proportions the ambivalent Hindu says, “Any Hindus who regularly gather with their peers in an effort to stimulate a healthy pride, sense of accomplishment and hope for the future are practicing hate and intolerance.”  Not only is this illogical, it is a clear example of the atrophied old world prejudice being applied as a weapon against the free practice of one of our most valuable constitutional and traditional rights i.e. the freedom to assemble.

COMPASSION FOR ALL OR ELSE Some speak of “Compassion for All.”  Strangely they ignore their own lack of compassion in their efforts to demonize those Americans and others that make up the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh. True compassion calls for honest appraisals and recognition of others’ rights to be respected and not defamed for being who they are. True compassion encourages everyone’s right to celebrate their lives and recognized traditions regardless of any other considerations. Many speak glowingly of the ideal India. They speak of unity without regard to race or religion. They’ll speak of fairness and equality without regard to caste or class. Yet they deny that these very same ideals are at the heart of the Sangh and other such Hindu activist organizations.  As an organization the Sangh is dedicated to an Indian India.  When 85% of a reality is staring you in the face one must be blind or confused to ignore it. Since 85% of India is Hindu it makes sense that Hindu and India just might have something to do with each other. An honest and successful Indian group would require a strong Hindu element in order to be an authentic representation of India.  And because India is not legally 100% Hindu, the Sangh developed a very inclusive view on what a Hindu is.  In this humane view a Hindu is an Indian and an Indian is a Hindu regardless of race, religion and many times even nationality.  One cannot take the Hinduness out of an Indian and thus India-ness means Hindu.

INDIA-NESS GOOD FOR TIBET BUT BAD FOR INDIA 

Unfortunately many anti-Hindu writers and their comrades turn this inclusiveness into hate. This is a testament to the power of the oft-repeated lie.  Yet these lies can be easily exposed when we admire the former President of India, Dr. Kalam or the BJP Chairman Naqvi, two great Indian Muslims who truly understand India. They recognize that Hindu civilization is the unique and life-affirming Indian foundation of India.  For instance, we see that it is the Hindu ethos that is facilitating Tibet’s Buddhist culture. Rather than a new phenomenon, Hindu India is simply maintaining its ancient tradition of inclusiveness and its continuity as the home of Buddhism. India is not the only country in the region yet the Dalai Llama fled Chinese Communist aggression and remains in India to this day. If it were an Islamic ethos or Christian ethos or the Marxists and Maoists that were capable of hosting, facilitating and preserving Tibetan Shramanic culture we would have seen it by now. Rather we see the opposite attitude towards Buddhism with the latest example being displayed with Communist genocide of millions of Buddhists and more recently the Taliban’s destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas. In the same way that India is preserving Tibet through facilitating its cultural representatives and guaranteeing the free practice of Tibetan culture, it is that same India that is and will guarantee freedom to all Kashmiris.  Like it or not, accept it or reject it, the truth of the matter remains that it is India’s ‘Hinduness’ that guarantees its inclusivity for all its citizens.  History confirms this fact. Pakistan confirms this fact. Thus an organization of Hindus based on this very same life-affirming Hindu ethos is the guarantee that freedom and liberty will stand for all.  

HARMONIOUS PAST AND AN EMPOWERED FUTURE

A resurgent India, vibrant and confident, is a matter of great hope and promise. This promise is not only for the Hindus but for the entire world at large.  The ongoing attempts to darken and sully this indigenous resurgence are a classic example of politics at its worst.  Strangely as the anti-Hindus attempt to present themselves as open-minded freethinking people it is obvious that they are in reality self-appointed guardians of the atrophied old world mindset dedicated to maintaining the status quo. Perhaps it is Hindu civilization’s natural growth and all inclusiveness that motivates those dedicated to a world without Hindus.  Perhaps it is recognized that without campaigns designed to divert any further growth or mass public support, Hindu civilization will be recognized for what it truly is, “Humanity’s most ancient, sustainable and ongoing cultural sequence.” It was harmonious in the past, is strong in the present and is destined to empower our future. The various Hindu traditionalists and activists are the selfless servants of the world at large. Hindu civilization represents the guaranteed future hope of an arisen and awakened humanity. It has been with us from the beginning of time and its foundation on Love, Dedication and Inspiration assures us that it will be with us forever.

Vrndavan Parker has attended Vedic Gurukula schools from 1971 until 1981, in the USA and in Vrindavana,India. He studied Sanskrit, Hindi,  and Vedic  literature, as well as English, Math, Indian History and the Vedic tradition of Cow protection. Initiated into Vaishnavism by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and Bhakti-Sundar Govinda Maharaj, he has been researching and publicly presenting Vedic Historical and Cross-cultural connections since 1996. Vrndavan is a founding member of WAVES, World Association for Vedic Studies, owner and founder of Vedic Empire Productions, a multi-media cultural production company, former candidate for Hawaii State Senate in 1996, publicly elected to the Waikiki Neighborhood Board, in Honolulu, HI, 1997, and a founding member and former Vice-President of the Vedic Friends Association. You can reach him at vrnparker@yahoo.com.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, September 1st, 2007 at 3:04 pm and is filed under Editorials/Reflections, Sangh. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.